Singing at the Sunday morning service gave choir members an "emotional high," said Richard Conant, the group's long-time director and a professor of music. Nineteen members of Carolina Alive and 60 guests traveled to Cuba May 17-21 for the four-night trip, which included a performance at the International Choral Festival de Cuba and exchanges with Cuban college students.

"A little boy was being christened during the Sunday service. Their children's choir and adult choir sang, and we sang," Conant said. "They sang 'Jesus Loves Me' in Spanish, and we joined in in English. "To see those little kids singing and their response back to us with two or three standing ovations and tears in everyone's eyes, it was an emotional high point. I dedicated the finale to the Cuban people. It was very moving."

The group also received a standing ovation during the closing ceremony of the choral festival, performing their 10-minute Steppin' Out medley, which features athletic choreography with lots of jumps and throws.

"The Cubans just ate it up," Conant said. "They don't see things like that. They don't have show choirs that dance and move."

Cuba has talented choirs and directors, but most sing a cappella because they don't have many instruments, especially outside Havana, Conant said.

"We take it for granted that there are pianos in every elementary school in this country, but Cubans presumably don't have pianos or band instruments or violins at every school and church," he said. "We often performed without our usual equipment. I brought some personal speakers and a CD player with me, and they came in handy for a few informal occasions."

During the trip, USC students also met with Cuban college students at an art institute; had dinner at La Mina, a famous restaurant in Havana; and took an afternoon excursion to the city's eastern beaches.

No matter where they went, Conant and the other tour members felt the warmth of the Cuban people.

"The Cuban people are great–very friendly and charismatic–and they love Americans," he said. "People everywhere appreciate music and talent. Friendship is the message; music is the medium. It works so well with music that way. It bridges the communication and political gaps."

Members of Carolina Alive returned that warmth, ending the trip with a few tears of their own.

"The students were great," Conant said. "They made great friends with the guests on the tour and the Cuban people. Our guides and most of the students were crying when we were at the airport preparing to depart."